Washer and concentrator for ores, &amp;c.



209. (JASSH'YINLL MLFHHHHWU,

AM) ASSURHNG suunss ,QQ Q

m. 658,8l3 Patented Oct. 2, I900 H. T. &. C. A. SPRXNG. WASHER AND, CONCENTBATOR FOR ORES, 62.0.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 1899. Renewed. Mar. 8, 1900.) (N0 Mndai.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

ATTORNEY.

mvu AooUH I INU bULIUb.

M15336: 7 Patented Oct. 2, I900. H. T. & c. A. SPRING.

WASHER AND CUNGENTRATOR FOR (IRES, &.c.

(Ap lication ma Jan. 17, 1899. Renewed Mar. 3, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Q \1 INVENTOHS WITNESSES: Q7 Q0 a)? LAN W n1: roams nuns m movoumow wAsmnamu, a c.

mmmumu,

(I! ASSIHINU,

U ASSURHNG SUUDS. i-2Q (Application filed Jan. 17, 1899. Renewed Mar. 3, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

INVENTORS 8) id, e/T Wm ATTORNEY.

Man-u UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY T. SPRING, OF LANSDALE, AND CHARLES A. SPRING, OF- PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WASHER AND CONCENT-RATOR FOR ORES, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,813, dated October 2, 1900. Application filed January 1'7, 1899. Renewed March 8, 1900. Serial No. 7,247- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY T. SPRING, residing at Lansdale, county of Montgomery, and CHARLES A. SPRING, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washers and Concentrators for Ores or other Mineral Deposits, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmgs.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for washing and concentrating metallic ores or other mineral deposits, the invention being especially useful in localities where a running stream of water cannot conveniently be had.

v transverse vertical section thereof. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of one of the vertically-movable frames and the cam for controlling same.

1 is a water-containing tank of appropriate shape and size for its intended purpose. On

' the ends of this tank are bolted guide-frames 2, to which are fitted vertically-movable end heads or standards 3, provided at their upper ends with pillow-blocks or bearings 4 for the trunnions 5 of an oscillatory cradle 6. This cradle depends into the tank and is adapted to be swung to and fro therein. It comprises a horizontal rectangular frame 7' with vertical side bars 8, by means of which it is suspended from the trunnions. The frame is provided with a series of cross-bars 8 to afford parallel spaces or divisions for thereception of scoops or pans 9, of novel construction, in which the ores or deposits are washed and concentrated, to the end that during the oscillation of the cradle such scoops or pans will be carried thereby.

Affixed to the trunnions exteriorly of the tank are depending links or guides 10, which ,r embrace appropriate cams 11 on stud-shafts 12. These shafts are journaled in suitable hearings on the respective end frames and are driven from a suitable source of power. Hence the cams in their rotation will oscillate the coacting links in concert and correspondingly actuate the cradle.

The lower end of each of the end heads or standards is supported upon a cam 13 on a suitably-disposed studshaft 14, which is geared with the adjacent primary shaft 12 by means of a train of spur-wheels 15 of such relative proportions that the shaft 14 is driven at a very slow rate of speed in respect to that of the primary shaft. Consequently during the oscillation of the cradle the cams 13 in in their rotation gradually and uniformly raise the end heads or standards and therewith the cradle and the scoops for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The scoops or pans above referred to are each of the following construction: 16 16 are two parallel side bars of less length than the width of the tank. 17 is a bottom section interposed between said bars, and 18 18 are oppositely-inclined sections leading from the .respective ends of the bottom section and constituting, in effect, continuations thereof. The sections 18 are of peculiar construction, each of the same comprisinga narrow metallic portion 19, the lower edge of which is curved inwardly toward the median line of the scoop, a cloth-covered or blanket portion 20, inclined at difierent angles, as indicated at as and y, and provided with a curved raise or riftle 21, a metallic portion 22, having an overflow-opening 23, and a raised section or dip 24, extending near to the outer end of the side bars and having at its outer extremity a transverse inlet 25, closed by a pivoted flap-valve 26. Both ends of the scoop are similarly constructed. The side bars are provided with suitably-arranged lugs 26, which are adapted to rest upon the crossbars in the cradle-frame, and thus detachably support the scoop thereon.

Rising from the ends of the tank are standards 27, by means of which is supported a longitudinally-arranged hopper 28, having in its bottom a series of depending pipes 29, that are directed toward the series of scoops when the latter are supported on the cradle to the end that the dirt deposited in the hopper will be fed by way of the pipes to the respective scoops. Each of these pi pcs is provided with a suitable slide or gate 30, by means of which the pipes orany of them may be opened or closed, as desired.

In the'bottom of the tank,at each side thereof, is formed a transverse pocket or channel 31, one end of which is inclined above and beyond the end of the tank, as at 32, and opens onto a platform 33. In this pocket, running from end to end thereof, is an endless con veyer 34, which comprises in this instance an apron provided with transverse blades 36 and guided by suitably-arranged rollers 35. This conveyor is designed to receive the tailings discharged from the scoop during the washing operation, carry the deposit above the water-level in the tank, and dump it onto the platform 33. The platform is $1 ly dipped toward the tank, so that the draining from the failings will retut". he tank. v

1he"'sl1at't 37, which carries the rollers at the summit of the incline,is positively driven, so as toimpel the conveyor in the proper direction. In the present instance this shaft extends the entire width of the tank and carries the upper rollers for both conveyers. The shaft is provided with a skew-gear 38, which coacts with a similar gear 39 on the underlying primary shaft. means for driving the conveyors may be employed.

The operation of the apparatus above described may be briefly stated as follows: At the outset the tank is supplied with water to the proper level, the scoops are applied to the cradle, and the substance to be treated is fed thereto by way of the hopper. The cradle is set in its lowermost position and power applied to the shafts 12, the cams 11 on which, coacting with the respective links 10, effect the oscillation of the cradle and the scoops thereon. At the same time the lower cams 13 are rotated to gradually raise the cradle, and the conveyers are simultaneously driven. During the oscillations of the scoops their respective ends are alternately dipped into and raised from the water in the tank. In one throw of the scoops their descending ends are dipped into the water, which latter, perforce,opens the submerged flap-valves and flows into the scoops, the volume of water admitted thereto being determined by the extent the ends of the scoops are submerged.

In the succeeding throw the water thus ad-' mitted runs down the ascending inclined end sections 18 and into the bottom section, thereupon flowing upon and over the substance therein, separating from the mass the waste or tailings, carrying the latter upon the 'descending end sections 18 of the scoops, and partially passing 01f with the tailings through the overflow-openings, which latter, it will Obviously other be understood, lie above the water-leveLwhile the valved parts dip into the water. Hence the failings drop into the underlying conveyer, while the water returns to the tank to be used again and again. In this stroke the curvature of the portion 19 tends to deflect the water toward the middle of the scoop, and thereby concentrate the material thereat. The escape of the finer particles of rich substance is prevented by the riffles and the blanket portions. Owing to the curvature of these riffles and the inclination of the parts 00 and 19, the bulk of the water is prevented from flowing off, which water, running down into the bottom section, draws therewith to the latter the particles of matter previously caught by the blanket. The riffles tend to deflect the water and, perforce, the particles of matter toward the middles of the respective scoops. In the next throw of the scoops the water just admitted flows down upon the dips and blanketed portions and into the bottotn sections, thus washing all the contained deposit on said portions into the latter and carrying off the tailings at the opposite ends of the scoops. It will thus be seen that d uring the oscillations of the scoops the water is admitted to and discharged from their respective ends in alternate succession and that the tailings are progressively delivered to the underlying conveyors and carried off thereby.

It will of course be understood that as the operation proceeds the volume of water admitted to the scoops must be gradually reduced. To this end the lower cams 13 are provided, which as they gradually raise the cradle and scoops in the manner above described correspondingly diminish the dip of the scoops into the water. The parts are so adjusted that when the scoops are entirely raised by the cams 13 the operation has been completed.

We have found by actual experience that in the end sections of the scoops substantially the angles or inclinations shown in the drawin gs are requisite to insure a practical and ef ficient washing and concentrating operation.

The described construction of the scoops is an important feature of our invention, and we therefore lay claim broadly thereto irrespective of the particular means or devices by which the scoops are operated.

The apparatus is especially valuable in those localities where water cannot conveniently be had in that the water contained in the tank may be used for a great length of time.

What we claim is- 1. A scoop or pan of the character described, adapted to be suspended in or above a body of water and dipped endwise thereinto, said scoop or pan comprising side walls, a bottom section, and oppositely-inclined end sections, the latter being provided with overflow-openings whereby as the outward extremities of the end sections are dipped into and raised from the water a portion of the water contained in the scoop or pan will escape therefrom by way of said openings in alternate succession.

2. A scoop or pan of the character described, adapted to be suspended in or above a body of water and dipped endwise thereinto, said scoop or pan comprising side walls, a bottom section, and oppositely-inclined end sections, the latter being provided with overflow-openings and inlets, said valves and inlets being at the outer extremities of said end sections together with valves for said inlets.

3. A scoop or pan of the character described adapted to be suspended in or above a body of water and dipped endwise thereinto, said scoop or pan comprising side Walls, a bottom section, and inclined end sections, the latter being provided with riftles and with overflowopenings between said riffles and the outer extremities of the end sections.

4. A scoop or pan of the character described, adapted to be suspended in or above a body of water and dipped endwise thereinto, said scoop or pan comprising side walls, a bottom section, and inclined end sections, the latter being provided with curved rifiies and with overflow-openin gs between said riftles and the outer extremities of the end sections.

5. A scoop or pan of the character described, adapted to be suspended in or above a body of water and dipped endwise thereinto, said scoop or pan comprising side walls, a bottom section, and inclined end sections, the latter being provided with lower metallic portions and with blanket portions together with overflow-openings between said latter portions and the outer extremities of the end sections respectively.

6. A scoop or pan of the character described, adapted to be suspended in or above a body of water and dipped endwise thereinto, said scoop or pan comprising side walls, a bottom section, and inclined end sections, the latter being provided with lower curved metallic portions and with blanket portions together with overflow-openings between said latter portions and the outer extremities of the end sections respectively.

7. A scoop or pan of the character described, adapted to be suspended in or above a body of water and dipped endwise thereinto, said scoop or pan comprising side walls, a bottom section, and inclined end sections, the latter being provided with lower metallic portions and with blanket portions having transverse riffles together with overflow-openings between said latter portions and the outer extremities of the end sections, respectively.

8. Ascoop or pan of the character described, adapted to be suspended in or above a body of water and dipped endwise thereinto, said scoop or pan comprising side walls, a bottom section, and inclined end sections, the latter being provided with lower curved metallic portions and with blanket portions having transverse curved riffies together with overflow-openings between said latter portions and the outer extremities of the end sections respectively.

9. A scoop or pan of the characterdcscribed, adapted to be suspended in or above a body of water and dipped endwise thereinto, said scoop or pan comprising side walls, a bottom section, and inclined end sections, the latter being provided with lower metallic portions and with blanket portions having transverse curved rifiles together with overflow-openings between said latter portions and the outer extremities of the end sections, respectively.

10. A scoop or pan of the character described, adapted to be suspended in or above a body of water and dipped endwise thereinto, said scoop or pan comprising side walls, a bottom section, and inclined end sections, the latter being provided with overflow-openings and valved inlets, and including each a metallic portion, 19, a blanket portion 20, with a riffle 21, a metallic portion 22, and a dip 24.

11. The combination with a water-tank, of a cradle suspended therein, a scoop in said cradle provided with oppositely-inclined ends having overflow-openings and valved inlets, and means for oscillating said cradle whereby the said inlets are dipped into and raised from the water in the tank in alternate succession, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a water-tank, of a cradle suspended therein, a scoop in said cradle provided with oppositely-inclined ends having overflow-openings and valved inlets, and means for oscillating said cradle whereby the said inlets are dipped into and raised from the water in the tank in'alternate succession, together with means for gradually raising said cradle during its oscillations, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a tank, of a vertically-adjustable frame, a scoop, provided with oppositely-inclined ends having each an overflow-opening and a valved inlet, means whereby said scoop is suspended from said frame, means whereby the scoop is oscillated, and means whereby the frame is gradually raised.

14. The combination with a tank, of a vertically-adjustable frame, a scoop, provided with oppositely-inclined ends having each an overflow-opening and a valved inlet, means whereby said scoop is suspended from said frame, means whereby the scoop is oscillated so as to dip said ends into the waterin alternate succession, cams acting upon said frame, and means whereby said cams are rotated.

15. The combination with a tank, of vertically-adjustable standards, a cradle suspended from said standards, and adapted to support a scoop or scoops, links or guides connected with said cradle, cams coacting with said links or guides, shafts for said cams,

lower cams acting against said standards,

I 5 with guideways,

shafts for said latter oalns, and gearing in-' ing with said links or guides, lower shafts,

eoacting gearing between the same and said stud-shafts, and cams on said lower shafts eoaoting with the respective standards.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signa- :5 tures in presence of two witnesses.v

HENRY '1. SPRING. CHARLES A. SPRING.

Witnesses:

ANDREW V. GROUPE, JOHN R. NOLAN. 

